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Toyota Motor (7203.T) is set to embark on an innovative lunar exploration endeavor, aiming to utilize regenerative fuel cell technology to power a manned lunar rover. This move could potentially pave the way for harnessing the moon’s water ice as an energy source in the future.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan has been ramping up its space ambitions. As part of NASA’s Artemis program, Japan intends to participate in lunar missions and even have an astronaut stationed at a lunar space station called Gateway by the latter half of the 2020s.
Toyota has been collaborating with Japan’s space agency since 2019 to develop a manned lunar rover, aptly named the Lunar Cruiser. The ambitious goal is to deploy this rover on the moon by 2029.
Ken Yamashita, the head of lunar exploration projects at Toyota, expressed the company’s vision, stating, “In order to conduct long-term and stable research on the surface of the moon, we are aiming to source various items on-site over a long period.”
To achieve this, Toyota plans to employ fuel cell technology in the Lunar Cruiser. A fuel cell vehicle functions like an electric vehicle but draws power from a fuel stack that separates hydrogen using a catalyst to produce electricity. Toyota’s approach will involve utilizing solar energy and water to generate hydrogen and oxygen through a process called electrolysis during daylight hours. The fuel cells will then supply electricity during the lunar night, which lasts about 14 Earth days.
This cutting-edge technology will enable the lunar rover to traverse for an extended period, even in darkness and extremely cold conditions, making it highly suitable for lunar exploration missions.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency indicated that NASA expects Japan to provide the lunar rover for the Artemis program, with a targeted launch date in 2029.
Toyota’s aspiration is to secure an order for the manned lunar rover by the autumn of next year. The Lunar Cruiser is designed to carry two astronauts on a 42-day mission each year and remain operational for a decade.
Ken Yamashita expressed further optimism, saying, “Our idea is to continue with the lunar rover longer than those 10 years if there’s a company or arrangement that can supply the water needed for that.” He clarified that initially, clean water would need to be sent into space with the rover.
However, Yamashita cautioned that Toyota does not currently anticipate generating water usable for fuel cells from the moon’s ice water or being capable of mining it independently. Instead, it is likely to rely on collaboration with other companies or future technological advancements to make that feasible.
Toyota’s plans to employ regenerative fuel cell technology in a manned lunar rover represent a significant stride in the pursuit of lunar exploration and space innovation. As Japan strengthens its presence in the space industry, the Lunar Cruiser holds the promise of contributing to scientific research and advancing human understanding of our celestial neighbor, the moon.